Issues

Fighting for Our Families and Our Communities

Ryan is working to bring more high-wage jobs to the region to improve the quality of life of families. Legislatively, Ryan has continually voted to reduce taxes for both individuals and small-businesses. Not only has he voted to reduce taxes, but in his role as the House Finance Chairman, he has been at the helm of Ohio’s finances, where he has increased surpluses and maintained the state’s AAA bond rating.

Ryan believes that small government with low taxes and stable finances will attract industry.

Ryan is a strong advocate for increasing funding for our schools in an effort to expand educational opportunities for students.

Appalachian schools face uniquely difficult challenges given their cyclical poverty and large land area. Ryan considers proper education a principal factor in giving students a pathway out of poverty. Focusing on struggling schools will revitalize regions by building a stronger workforce to attract jobs and will change countless lives of students.

These goals can be accomplished by strengthening existing options for students and blending learning opportunities for students in smaller districts. Ryan knows that technology can play a fundamental role by allowing students to take classes online and utilize digital class material. Additionally, Advanced Placement (AP) classes must be expanded to give college prep students the ability to compete with their peers across the state, country and world. Each of these initiatives will improve education in high-poverty areas.

Ryan also believes that we should have accountability on Ohioan’s tax dollars in the educational system. Ryan was a key member in the formulation of HB 2, which sought to provide oversight on Ohio’s charter schools. With hundreds of millions of dollars being allocated to charter schools each year, Ryan recognizes that proper safeguards should be in place to protect tax dollars and Ohio’s children.

Ryan understands that it in order for our region to be successful; it must attract investment to the area. That is why Ryan has voted for several capital budget bills and various infrastructure improvements that have spurred development in our area.

As House Finance Chairman, Ryan has worked in tandem with House, Senate and executive leaders to identify and solve Ohio’s development issues. This process has required difficult decision-making about where and how to invest Ohio’s scarce resources for economic and community growth.

In 2011, Ohio’s rainy day fund had only 89 cents in it and today that number is over $2 billion. Ohio has made a remarkable comeback, but due to the potential of economic calamity, we must continue our fiscally conservative budgeting. In addition to smart financial decisions, Ohio must also diversify its economic portfolio. These new industries include tech and financial service firms, while also include augmenting our staple industries.

Ohio was built on its manufacturing and agribusiness sectors and it is imperative that we encourage growth and stability in those areas. Ryan also realizes how vital it is that we attract new industries to these existing sectors that can strengthen our economy. One such example is the petrochemical boom initiated by the fracking revolution in eastern and southeastern Ohio.

In order to attract and retain these businesses, communities must be able to develop their land. Ryan supports additional site development funds for rural areas so that they can take part in Ohio’s economic success. The results yielded from these strategies will create advances in targeted industries such as advanced manufacturing, energy, polymers and chemicals will create scores of new jobs for Ohioans and generate tax revenue for local governments.

As a father of four, Ryan is committed to protecting innocent life and is a strong support of pro-life issues.

Ryan also protects life as a leader in the movement to fight Ohio’s drug epidemic. Ryan sponsored HB 341, which places additional requirements to the State Board of Pharmacy’s Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). This has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of prescription drugs prescribed and has decreased the opportunity for drugs to get in the wrong hands. Ryan has worked to address the drug supply, but he has also been an advocate for expanding treatment options for the addicted. Progress has been made, but Ryan knows more needs to be done to fight this scourge.